Cannabis potentially worth £20,000

But tenant was growing drug to alleviate landlord's cancer pain

POLICE who raided a Caithness house found an indoor plantation with a potential street value of £20,000 a court heard today.
But Aaron Faulkner, 33, the tenant of Reisgill House, near Lybster, was not growing the drug for commercial gain, it was claimed at Wick Sheriff Court.
He was cultivating it in order to supply his landlord, in an advanced stage of cancer, with cannabis oil to relieve his pain.
Faulkner, admitted producing the Class B drug, between January and April, last year. In addition to plants at various stages, numbering between 150- to 200, police officers found all the equipment required for cannabis production in two rooms of the property, including all the electronic gear and lighting provided by Faulkner, an electrician to trade.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that although the value of the cannabis plants had been estimated at £20,000 by a Crown expert, the figure was based on a maximum crop having reached maturity.
Solicitor George Mathers said that Faulkner had come north from East Staffordshire with his landlord, who had taken a decision to flit, to get "the fresh air of Scotland". The landlord had purchased Reisgill House and came to an arrangement whereby the accused would grow the cananbis and supply him with cannabis oil which he had found beneficial to his condition.The landlord is not being prosecuted.
Mr Mathers said that Faulkner was "doing his friend a favour" as opposed to growing the cannabis for supply to others.
Sheriff Andrew Berry deferred sentence until April 17 for a background report and ordered the bulk of the production equipment to be forfeit.